CDC survey finds higher incidence of autism

1 in 100 8-year-olds in U.S. diagnosed

October 05, 2009|By Trine Tsouderos, Tribune Newspapers

About 1 in 100 8-year-old children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers who will be releasing details of their study later this year.

The rate -- significantly higher than the government's 2007 estimate of 1 in 150 -- is sure to make waves in the world of autism and beyond, prompting advocates and researchers to call for more research and more funding for services.

But researchers cautioned that the higher rate might not mean that more kids have autism spectrum disorder.

"It is not entirely clear what (the) increase is due to," said Dr. Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health. "It is not clear more children are affected rather than just changes in our ability to detect."

The rate, calculated by reviewing records in communities across the U.S., echoes findings of a national telephone survey of parents that is being published Monday in the journal Pediatrics.

The survey, conducted by the CDC and the Health Resources and Services Administration, asked parents of 78,000 children ages 3 to 17 whether a health care worker or doctor had ever told them their child had autism spectrum disorder.

Parents of 1 in 91 children said yes and also said their child currently has the disorder. For boys, the figure was 1 in 58.

Dr. Steven Goodman, an epidemiologist with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said he agrees prevalence is higher than years ago and merits concern, but warned against panic.

"This has the tremendous potential to scare people," Goodman said. "It is very unlikely that there has been an explosive increase in the way that has been portrayed in the media."

Autism has no known cause and no cure. Scientists think it may be many distinct problems that manifest themselves similarly. Children afflicted often have trouble communicating and socializing, and can exhibit repetitive, rigid behavior.

Diagnosing autism relies on observation, behavioral checklists and expert assessment rather than lab tests or X-rays, making it hard to determine how common it is.

Interpreting data can be a thicket too. Growing awareness, wider screening and a push to identify children earlier accompany the rise in the rate, but scientists have not figured out whether other factors are also at play.

Advocates in the autism community called for more funding for research.

"We have this amazing terrible national health crisis on our hands at this moment," said Lee Grossman, president of the Bethesda, Md.-based Autism Society and the father of a child with autism. "We have millions of people affected by this, and the services and supports available to them are inappropriate and inadequate and in some cases a detriment."

The grandfather of a child with autism, Bob Wright, co-founder of New York City-based Autism Speaks, said: "We are trying desperately to have the health and research assets to be aligned with the prevalence of autism and so far they are way behind."

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Doing the math

The researchers' new estimate would mean about 673,000 U.S. children have autism. Previous estimates put the number at about 560,000.

But figuring out how many children have autism is difficult because diagnosis is based on behavior, said Dr. Susan Levy of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the American Academy of Pediatrics subcommittee on autism.

"As of yet, there's no consistent biologic marker we can use to make the diagnosis of autism," Levy said.

President Barack Obama has made autism a priority for research, said Dr. Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health. Federal stimulus money has been earmarked for autism.

And before Obama took office, a 2006 law pumped millions in federal money into research, screening and treatment. For more information on autism go to: